Game



.April 15, 1947- w. AsHwoRTH I 2,419,000

GAME

Filed Nov. 1s, 1945 i C) L:l-

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, Q, @IQ w m T Q E M m. mge@ w 9 Patented Apr. 15,: 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.' 2,419,000 I GAME Wylie Ashworth, Helena, Mont.

Application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 628,085

This invention relates to games, the primary object of the invention being to provide a game board having a plurality of rows 'of openings formed in the playing `surface thereof, and game pieces in the form oi marbles adapted to rest within the openings in such a way that the marbles may be readily moved from one opening to another, in playing the game, the openings being of diameters to permit the marbles to drop therethrough, under certain conditions during th'eplaying of the game.

An important object of the invention is the provision of marble supporting means disposed within the game board directly under the openings thereof, whereby the marbles are normally supported within the openings above` the playing surface, the supporting means being so constructed that by operating the movable supporting means, certain of the marbles may be dropped through the openings and be eliminated from further play during th'e game, while certain other marbles of that particular row, will remain above the surface of the game board to be moved in playing the game.

Still another object of the invention is to Aprovide marble supporting and trapping members which may be rearranged so that the relation of the openings of the playing surface and openings of the marble supporting and trapping means, may be changed to prevent a player having an advantage over his opponent by memorizing th'e relative positions of the openings in the game board surface and marble supporting means.

With the foregoing and other' objects in view which will'appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a game board constructed in accordance with the invention, a portion of the game board having been broken away to illustrate the bores in which the marble supporting tubes are held.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of one end of the game board.

5 Claims. (Cl. l27g- 136) Figure 5 is a `fragmental sectional View through. the game board illustrating a supporting tube as having been moved to permit a marble to pass thereinto.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of one end of a marble supporting tube.

Referring to the drawing in detail, ythe game board is indicated generally by the reference character 5, the playing surface th'ereof being formed with a plurality of openings. 6 that are arranged preferably in diagonal rows 'across the board providing playing areas which are divided by a row of openings 'I.

Extending longitudinally of the, game board and arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other, are bores 8 that extend throughout the length of the game board, the ends of the bores being open to'receive th'e marble supporting tubes. 9, which tubes are of lengths to eX- tend throughout the lengths of the bores, as

clearly shown by Figure 3 ofthe drawing, the

ends of the tubes 9 being closed by means of the walls Iii that are spaced from the ends of the tubes, there being provided lugs II formed integral with-the walls I0 and disposed at the ends of the tubes, providing nger pieces whereby the tubes may be rotated within the bores.v

These tubes are provided with openings I2 that are so arranged within the tubes thatk they will register with certain of the openings 6 of the playing surface, to permit the marbles resting Within the openingsv to fall into the tubes 9,. when. the tubes are rotated byv a player.

Under normal conditions the openings I2 will be out of register with the openings 6, and the tubes provide supporting surfaces on which the marbles rest while they are being moved by the players over the playing surface of the board.

At the ends of the bores 8 are provided circular grooves I3, and cut-out portions I3 extending inwardly from the ends of the bores to the grooves I3, the grooves I3 being designed to accommodate the pins I'4 that extend from the tubes 9,

andi are inserted by moving the pins through the cut-out portions I 3. The pins I4 are arranged at one end of each tube so that when the tubes are removed and reversed Within the bores, the grooves I3 will be provided for the pins I4, at the opposite ends of the bores.

One method of playing the game is for the players to select a number of marbles of a different color or variety and place them on the extreme opposite sides of the dividing line, i. e., the continuous line of holes straight across the board. The moves are made alternately. Marbles may be moved or jumped either forward or back, the accepted course being diagonally across the board. Marbles may also be moved or jumped straight along the divisional line of holes. They may be moved straight into or straight out of the divisional line of holes on the short spans only, but they are also permitted to enter or leave the divisional line of holes on the regular diagonal course.

Jumps are compulsory and any time players jump an opponents marble, they gain the right to turn any tube in the board, thus trapping all marbles contacted by the holes in the tubes. Any time the division line is occupied by as many as ve marbles, the player who increases that number gains the right to turn a tube, thus trapping all marbles contacted. The-object of this method is to eliminate the opponents marbles as quickly as possible by trapping them. The constant aim is forcing or inducing the opponent to jump ory move his marbles onto possible contacts. Any time players gain the right to turn a tube, they may select and turn any tube they desire.

In order that the playing of the game may be varied, the tubes S may be removed and reversed in the bores, or changed from one bore to another bore, thus changing the relative locations of the openings of the tubes and playing surface.

What is claimed is:

l. A game board having a plurality of vertical openings formed Vin the playing surface thereof, said board having horizontal spaced bores extending throughout the width of the game board, supporting tubes mounted for rotary movement within the bores and on which game pieces placed in the openings, normally rest, said tubes having openings adapted to register with certain of the openings in the playing surface when said tubes are rotated, whereby game pieces resting in the openings registering with openings of the tubes,

will gravitate into the tubes, eliminating certain game pieces from the playing surface of the board.

2. A game board having a plurality of vertical openings formed therein adapted to accommodate game pieces, the openings being larger than the game pieces, said board having a plurality of spaced horizontal bores extending therethrough directly under the vertical openings, tubes mounted for rotary movement within the bores and having openings adapted to register with certain openings of the game board, whereby game pieces resting in the openings of the game board may pass into the tubes, and means for regulating rotary movement of the tubes.

3. A game board having a plurality of vertical openings formed therein, said game board having a plurality of bores extending horizontally therethrough and disposed under the openings of the game board, said openings of Athe game board adapted to register with said bores, tubes mounted for rotary movement within the bores, said tubes having openings adapted to register with certain of the openings of the game board, said openings of the game board adapted to accommodate game pieces, the tubes normally providing supports for the game pieces positioned within the openings, said tubes adapted to be rotated whereby the openings of the tubes register with the openings of the game board, whereby game pieces held within the openings of the game board gravitate into the tubes, and linger pieces at the ends of the tubes for rotating said tubes,

4. A game board having a plurality of vertical openings formed' therein, in which game pieces are positioned, said game board also having horizontal bores extending transversely therethrough,

the ends of the bores being open, tubes mounted for rotary movement within the bores, the ends of the tubes extending to the ends of the bores, said tubes adapted to be reversed end for end, in the bores, or changed from one bore to another bore, thus shifting or changing the locations of the possible contacts, said tubes having openings adapted to register with certain openings of the game board whereby. game pieces held Within the openings of the gamel board may gravitate into said tub-es, and finger pieces at the ends of the tubes by means of which the tubes are rotated. 5. A `game board having rows of openings formed therein, adapted to accommodate game pieces, the openings being larger than said game pieces, said board having a plurality of spaced open-ended horizontal bores extending through the game board directly under the rst mentioned openings, tubes mounted within the bores, and adapted to normally close the openings of the board, providing supports for game pieces disposed within the openings of the board, said tubes having openings adapted to register with openings of the game board when the tubes are rotated whereby game pieces drop into' the tubes, and the openings of the board and tubes being so arranged with respect to each other that Vai'- ious combinations of openings may be set up when the tubes are reversed within the bores.

WYLIE ASHWORTH. 

